South Korea is contemplating sending military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine in response to North Korea’s reported deployment of troops to support Russian forces, according to South Korean media reports on Monday.

The proposed plan would involve dispatching intelligence officers specializing in North Korean affairs and tactical experts to Ukraine. These personnel would assist in interrogations and provide interpretation services if North Korean soldiers are captured by Ukrainian forces, while also sharing insights about North Korean military tactics and operations.

This development follows claims by South Korea’s intelligence agency that North Korea has committed to sending 12,000 special forces troops to support Russia, with 1,500 soldiers already stationed in the Russian Far East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern about North Korea’s military involvement, warning it could escalate into “the first step to a world war.”

South Korea’s Defense Ministry indicated it would consider supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine with “an open attitude,” marking a potential shift from its previous position of providing only humanitarian assistance.

The Kremlin has deflected questions about the alleged deployment of North Korean troops, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov citing “contradictory information” from South Korea and the United States. Peskov pointed to Russia’s partnership with North Korea, and claimed their cooperation “should not worry anyone” as it isn’t directed against other nations.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday discussed the situation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Yoon condemned the military alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang, announcing plans to implement “phased measures” and promptly dispatch officials to enhance information sharing and security cooperation.

North Korea has previously supplied Russia with ammunition, with Ukrainian military intelligence identifying this support as a critical challenge among Moscow’s allies. The growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has emerged as a significant concern for both South Korea and NATO allies.

In the US, Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Michael R. Turner last week appealed to President Joe Biden, saying that “these troop movements, if true, are alarming and are an extreme escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. They require an immediate response from the United States and our NATO allies to avoid a widening conflict.”

Pyongyang has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations regarding troop deployments to Russia. 

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